Ok. . .honestly I haven't read that many of the replies to this because I am trying NOT to think about the newborn stage again at this point. . .LOL it is hard and I am not ready to even think about it again yet!
I think for us it will be easier this time around because of one biggie I learned. . .too late for the first one, but I will be keeping it in mind for the second. My baby's crying stressed me SOOOO much at the beginning. I would desperately try 10 different things in succession just to make him stop. . .did he need another feeding, swaddling, rocking, carrying around, bouncy seat, diaper change, check toes and fingers for strings wrapped aroudn them, swing, singing to him, shushing him, etc. etc. etc. . . and he probably no DEFINITELY he felt my desperation and it probably scared him, or at the least my efforts to quiet him stressed him out. It would spiral to more crying and I would end up feeling like my baby hated me. So what it took me a while to learn. . .
-Babies cry. It is hard going from being inside your mom's tummy to a world where there are bright lights, loud noises, where you can get hungry and cold and thirsty and tired. . .it takes some adjustment.
-It is ok that they cry, as long as you are there for them and have eliminated all obvious sources of discomfort. Sometimes they're just overwhelmed and need to express that with you there for quiet comfort. No need to run through an entire repetoire of comforting methods. . .try something and stick with it for a while to give the baby a chance to calm down. . .it can take a little while for them to "come down" from what's bothering them.
Good luck and keep in mind. . .it DOES get better and you will know your child better and even though it won't seem possible, love them more with every day that passes. |